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LL nu e .n S S .TJ nu nu. h s D0 M A L S A H B Tu. m. M M 0 m ELECTRIC STOP MOTION POR KNITTING MACHINES.

Patented Mar.. 25, 1890.

g his f'lfctozwm (No Model.) 3 Sheets-'Sheet 2, J. P. HASLAM. ELECTRIC STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING'MAOHINES.

N0.424,295. Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

N. PETERS, Phmumgmpm. wnmngmn, u c.

(No ModeI.) a Smets-sheet s.

J. P. HASLAM.

ELECTRIC STOP MOTION EOE KNITTINC MACHINES. No. 424,295. Patented Mar. Z5, 1890.

N. PETERS, Phobilwmphur, Washlngon DJ;

UNITED STATES PATENT OrErcE.

JOHN PLUMLEY I-IASLAM, OF WILMINGTON, DELAVARE, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTI-IS TO FRANCIS E. GALLAGIIER, SAMUEL L. FOSTER, AND JOHN T. AHRENS, ALL OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC STOP-MOTION FOR KNlTTlNG-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,295, dated March 25, 1890.

Application filed June 25, 1889. Serial No. 315,474. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN PLUMLEY HAS- LAM, of Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented 5 certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Stop-Motions for Knittng-ll/Iachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric stop-motions for knitting-machines, wherein, upon a 1o break occurring` in a thread, an electric circuit is closed, a magnet is thereby excited, andthe movement of the magnet-armature acts through suitable mechanical devices t stop the movement of the knitting mechanism.

p The present invention consists, primarily, in improved devices for accomplishing these results in an effectual and certain manner.

In addition to this primary object the inzo vention includes devices for closing the electric circuit, and thus stopping the knitting mechanism in case a thread becomes knotted or tangled.

The improvements which constitute the present invention are applicable to any of the knitting-machines now in use, whether employing one, two, or more threads, and are not limited in their application to any particular form or style of machine. For the 3o purpose of illustration and explanation, however, the improvements will be described as applied to one of the well-known circularknitting machines now in use in which two threads are employed. Suchamachine with the improvements applied `thereto is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures l and 2 are side views at right angles to each other of so much of a knitting- 4o machine as is necessary for an understanding of the present improvements and showing the present improvements. Figs. 3, 4:,

and 5 are detail views illustrating the inechanical stopping devices used in connection with the invention. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the pillars through which the electric circuits are opened and closed. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the connectionsof the electric-circuit wires, and Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the feed-rolls.

A represents the supporting-frame of the knitting-machine; B, the head thereof carrying the needles, and O the main drive-shaft of the machine carrying fast and loose pulleys a a, over which passes the drive-belt b, connecting with a suitable source of power.

D is the usual hand-shipper lever fixed to one end of a rock-shaft c, to which is fixed the shipper-fork CZ, the ends of which embrace the belt and cause it to pass from the fast to the loose pulley, or vice versa, in accordance with the movement of the shipper-lever.

E is a longitudinally-sliding shipper-rod,

which slides in suitable ways on the frame A, i

and is either pivotally connected at its outer end with the shipper-fork d, or siinplyabuts against the saine, since it is only necessary that the shipper-rod when moved should move the shipper-fork. Both of these connections between the fork and rod are well known. The sliding shipper-rod E has a notch etherein which engages a lip f on the frame, (which lip may be simply the part of the frame through which the sliding rod passes) so as normally to hold the sliding shipper-rod at its inmost position. rWhen at its inmost position, the relation of the sliding shipper-rod to the shipper-fork is such that the fork then occupies (or may occupy) its position to cause the drive-belt to pass around the fast pulley on the main shaft@ and so operate the knitting mechanism. A coiled spring F surrounds the sliding shipper-rod E, and when the notch e of the sliding shipper-rod is released from the lip j' of the frame by a lateral movement of the sliding shipper-rod the spring F throws the sliding shipper-rod outward, thus swinging the shipper-fork, which in turn carries the belt from the fast to the loose pulley on the main shaft O, and so stops the knitting mechanism. The spring-actuated sliding shipperrod E is moved laterally, so as to disengage it to permit the spring to act by the following mechanism:

A lever G is pivoted to the frame of the nia-- chine, and its lower end. is held by aspringgin contact with a cam or eccentric H on the main shaft C', which constantly oscillates the leverG, which is thus a constantly-oscillating lever during the knitting operation. The upper end of this oscillating lever is pivotally connected to a reciprocating bar I, which slides in guides on the frame and carries a projecting stud h.

J is a presser-lever pivoted to the frame, the lower end of which is in contact with the sliding shipper-rod E, and the upper end ot which is in the path of the'lower end of a swinging lever K, pivoted to the frame. To the upper end of the swinging lever K is pivoted at its center a catch-lever L, which carries on its inner end a catch 7.', which is normally held below the path of the stud h on the reciprocating bar I, either by a light spring j, connecting it with the frame, or by its own weight. If now the outer end of the catch-lever L is depressed, the catch will be raised into the path of the stud on the reciprocating bar I. The catch i is constructed', as shown, so that its lever L will be affected only on theoutward movement of the reciprocating bar. Vhen the constantly-reciprocating bar I moves outward, its stud 7L abuts against the catch t', thus causing the catch-lever L to movebodily with the reciprocating` bar. This bodily moving of the catch-lever swings the swinging lever K, causingthe lower end thereoi to swing the presser-lever J, which in turn moves the spring-actuated sliding shipperrod E sidewise, disengaging it and so permitting it to swing the shipper-'fork under the influence of the spring F and so stop the knittingmechanism.

The mechanisms thus far described constitute no part of the present invention, eX- c'ept in so far as they are combined with the features of the present invention, which will now be described.

10 is an electro-magnet located on the frame A and 11 is the movable armature thereof. This armature is attached to a sliding and swinging bar 12, which ispivotally suspended from the outer end of the catch-lever L. The bar 12 has a guide-slot 13, embracing a iXed stud 14 on the frame A. This connection enables the armature to be raised and lowered,'and at the same time permits the bar 12 to swing when the catch-lever -L is moved ontw-ard. Normally when the machine is in operation the electric circuit in which the magnet 10 is located is open. On the closing of the circuit the magnet 10 is excited, thus attracting the armature 11, depressing the same, -and sov causing vthe stopping of the machine through the instrumentality of the catch-lever L and the previously-described mechanical devices.

vNow the main purposes of the present invention are to cause the closing of the electric circuit in which the magnet 1C is located upon the occurrence of a break in a thread or upon the knotting or tangling of the same.

The threads are wound upon spools M in the usual manner, which spools may be conveniently supported in a fixed bracket N, secured to the frame A, and the threads pass from the spools to the usual guide-eye O on the machine-head B, which guides them to the needies.

Secured to the upper part of the frame A is a bracket 15, which carries a number of vertical rods or pillars 16,the number depending upon the number ot threads employed, there being twice as many pillars as there are threads, and since there are two threads employed in the machine shown in the drawings there are consequently four pillars shown. To distinguish the pillars, they are numbered 16, 16h, 16, and 16d, respectively, and the pillars are arranged in pairsone pair for each thread. Each of these pillars is composed of a metallic core 17, preferably yof copper or of other electric conducting material which is in the electric circuit, and which is surrounded by three sleeves 18, 19, and 20, entirely inclosingit. The upper sleeve 1S and lower sleeve 2O are composed of someinsulatin g material which is a non-conductorof electricity-such as hard rubber-while the intermediate sleeve 19, which embraces all of the core 17 between the insulating-sleeves, is composed of an electric conducting metal, such as copper. The metallic sleeve 19 is in electric contact with the core 17. Each pillar thus has a surface, which is composed of two insulating non-conducting portions, and an intermediate metallic portion, which is connected electrically with an electric circuit through the center of the pillar. The eX- posed ends of the several pillars are suitably insulated, so that the several pillars are independent of each other, which maybe done by having the portions of the bracket l5 with IOO which they come in contact composed of inv sulating` material. The insulation may be effected in any suitable manner, as by making the cross-pieces of the bracket 15, by whic the pillars are supported, of Wood.

The construction described of the pillars is a convenient and the preferred one, but is not essential, since, for example, the metallic sleeve 19 might be made integral with the core 17, as shown-in Fig. 7. It is only-essential that the pillar should have a central portion in the electric circuit and two insulated end portions.

The electric energy may be supplied from any suitable electric generator, such as a small dynamo-electric machine 21.

22 is a wire leading from one of thepoles IIO A return-wire 24 connects the magnet with the other or negative pole of the dynamo. Since the pillars 1Gb and 16d are insulated from the pillars 16a and 16C, it follows that thc electric circuit is normally open or broken, and it can be closed only by establishing electrical connection between the pillars 16a and 16D or between 16C and 16d-that is, in other words, by connecting electrically the two pillars constituting the pair of pillars for one of the threads.

The electric-circuit Wires and their connections are shown only in the diagram, Fig. 8, in order to avoid confusion in the other figures.

Each thread passes upwardly from its spool M through an eye in the bottom board 25 of the bracket 15, and thence `passes upwardly over a tension-rod 26, located crosswise near the upper ends of the pillars 16. The thread thence passes downward beneath a second tension-rod 27, and thence substantially hori- Zontally over a third tension-rod 28. In passing from tension-rod 27 to tension-rod 28 the thread passes through an eye- 2 9 cn a gravitydrop circuit-closerO, so" that the circuitcloser is normally held suspended by -the thread. This gravity-drop circuit-closer is in substance a wire frame of suitable electric conducting metal having loops 3l on each end inclosing and embracing a pair of the pillars 16-that is, in the machine shown Onegravity-drop circuit-closer has one loop 3l embracing pillar 16a and its other loop 31 embracing' pillar 16h, and the other drop circuit-closer embraces in a similar manner the pillars 16c and 16d. The loops 31 are preferablyeach composed of wire coils, as shown, embracing the pillars, so that a frictional contact is insured between them and the pillars. Normally when the machine is in operation each gravity-drop circuit-closer is held suspended on its thread, with its contact-loops embracing the upper non conducting or insulating sleeves or sections 18 of the pillars 16, so that normally the electric circuit is open. lIn case, however, there is a break inthe thread, the gravity-drop circuit-closer is no longer suspended by the thread, and it consequently drops, so that its contact-loops are brought into contact with the metallic sections 19 of two pillars of one of the pairs of pillars which are connected electrically to opposite poles of the dynamo. As soon as the drop circuit-closer makes this contact, the electric circuit is closed, passing through the circuit-closer, thus exciting the magnet 10 and consequently stopping the machine. The coiled loops 3l render an electric contact certain between them and the metallic sections 19 of the pillars, especially in view of the length of the metallic sections. The coils, however, are not essential, since simple loops or rings may be employed, as shown at the right in Fig. 2, and themet-allic Section of each pillar may be made bulging toward its center, as shown in pillar 16", the greatest diameter being greater than. the inner diameter of the loop; or the pillars may be provided with projecting stops, as shown at 32, onV pillar 16d upon which the loops would drop and be supported. The thread passes downwardly from the third tension-rod 28, through the eye 33 of a rise circuit-closer 34, and thence passes upwardly over a fourth tension-rod 35. The circuitcloser 34 is provided with contact-loops 36, and is constructed like the drop circuit-closers. The rise circuit-closer, however, is considerably heavier than the drop circuit-closer, so as not to be lift-ed by the normal tension of the thread, but is heavy enough to rest normally on the bottom board 25 of bracket 15, with its contact-loops surrounding and embracing the lower non-conducting or insulating sections or sleeves 2O of the proper pair of' pillars, so that normally the electric circuit is open.` rThe eye 33 of the rise circuit-closer is considerably smaller than that of the drop circuit-closer, and is just large enough to permit the thread in use to pass easily through it. In case, however, a knot, tangle, or other obstruction appears in the thread, it passes through the eye of the drop circuit-closer, but will not pass through the eye of the rise circuit-closer. rlhe result is that the rise circuit-closer is raised by such knot, tangle, or other obstruction until its contact-loops come in contact with the metallic intermediate sleeves 19 of one pair of the pillars, thus closing the electric circuit inl the same manner as the drop circuit-closer,`and thus stopping the machine.

The several tension-rods 26, 27, 28, and 35 are all arranged near the upper ends of the pillars, and they extend parallelwith each other horizontally and crosswise of the pillars, one set of tension-rods being suicient for a plurality of threads.

From the fourth tension-rod 35 the thread passes betweenUfeed-rolls37 38 and thence downward through the guide-eye O on the machine-head B to the needles. One of these feed-rolls is a longitudinally-tinted roll and the other a padded roll, andpreferably the lower roll 37 is the padded one. The lower roll 37 is a rotating roll and it is journaled in suitable bearings in the bracket l5. per roll turns in slots 39 in the bracket l5, and its weight resting on the threads gives the desired tension. The speed of the rotation of the rotating feed-roll is timed with that of the knitting mechanism by reason of its being driven by connection with the main drive-shaft C. The drive-shaft C is provided with a grooved pulley 40, and the rotating feed-roll has a similar pulley 41, the two pulleys being connected by a belt 42. The feedrolls being thus driven by the drive-shaft of the knitting mechanism and being timed therewith, it consequently follows that the feeding of the thread will stop when the ma- The uprgo chine stops, and a uniform tension will be applied to the threads as they encounter the z needles, which tension will remain lthe same and not be affected by the stoppage of the machine, since the machine will be stopped before any broken ends pass through the feed- 1 rolls.

In ordinary knitting-machines there occur at intervals press-offs, loss of stitches, and breaking of needles, resulting in inferior work andv loss of time, -all of which increase the cost of the product. With the present improvements applied to the knitting-machines these defects are overcome and prevented, consequently securing better quality in the product, saving material, time,and labor, and consequently decreasing the cost of the 1inished product.

I claim -as my in ventionl. The drive-shaft of a knitting-machine, a magnet and its armature,and stopping mechanism intermediate between said armature and shaft, whereby on the attraction of ysaid armature the machine will be stopped, in combination with a pair of pillars insulated from each other for each thread of the machine, each of said pillars having a portion of its surface -composed of a metallic electric conducting material, and a portion of its surface composed of an insulating non-conducting materialI an electric generator, circuit-wires connect-ing each of said pillars to opposite poles of said generator, said magnet being in the electric circuit, and a circuit-closer having contacts which are in connection with the insulating portions of said pillars when the machine is running in order, but which come in contactwithA the metallic portions of said pillars and so complete the electric circuit on a defect arising in the thread, substantially as set forth.

2. The drive-shaft of a knitting-machine, a

magnet and its armature, stopping mechan-` ism intermediate between said armature and shaft, an electric generator and circuit-wires connected with opposite poles of said electric generator, said magnet bein ginthe electric circuit, in combination with a pair of pillars insulated from each other for each thread of the machine, said pillars being electrically connected with opposite poles of the electric generator, respectively, each of said pillars having alower portion of the surface composed of a metallic electric conducting material, and the upper portion of its surface composed of an insulating non-conducting material, and a drop circuit-closer having contacts, said circuit-closer being normally suspended or held elevated by the thread with its contacts in contact with said insulating upper portions of said pillars, and said drop circuit-closer adapted to be released upon the occurrence of a break in the thread and thereby to drop, so that its contacts come `in contact with the metallic portions of the two pillars, and so close the electric circuit, substantially as set forth.

3. The drive-shaft of a knittingmachine,a magnet and its yarma-ture, stopping mechanism intermediate between said .armature and shaft, anielectric generator, and circuit-wi-res connected with opposite poles-of said elect-ric generator, said magnet zbeing i-n the electric circuit, in combination wi-th a pair of pillars for each thread, lsaid pillars being insulated from each other and velectrically connected, respectively, with opposite poles of the electric generator, each of said pilla-rs having Van upper portion of its surface composed of a metallic electric cond ucting material and the lower portion of itssurface composed of an insulating non-conducting material, and a rise circuit-closer having electric contacts normally coacting with said insulating lower portions of the pillars, but which,when the circuit-closer is raised, come in contact with the metallic surface portions of the two pillars and so close the circuit,and said circuitcloser having an eye sufficiently large to permit the passage of the thread in use, but

which does not permit the passage of a knot,

tangle, or other obstruction in the thead, substantially as set forth, whereby on the `occurrence of a knot, tangle, or equivalent defect .in the th-read the tension lof the thread will cause the rise circuit-closer to to be lifted.

4. The drive-shaft of `a knitting-machine, a magnet and its armature, stopping mechanism between said armatuie and shaft, an electric generator, and circuit-wires connected with opposite poles of said electric generator,

said magnet being in the electric circuit, in combination with a pair of pillars for each thread, said pillars being insulated from each other and electrically connected, respectively, with opposite poles of the electric generator, each of said pillars having its outer surface in three sections or portions', the upperA and lower portions or sections being composed-of insulating non-conducting material, and the intermediate portion being composed of a metallic conducting material, and drop and rise circuit-closets having electric contacts, the drop circuit-closer being normally vheld suspended by the thread with its contacts c0- acting with the upper insulating portions of said pillars, and the rise circuit-closer having an eye large enough -for the thread under orv dinary circumstances to pass through, being normally in position with its contacts. coacting with said lower insulating portions of said pillars, whereby the electric circuit is normally open, substantially as set forth.

5. The drive-shaft of a knitting-machine, a magnet and its armature, stopping mechanism between said armature and shaft, an electric generator, and circuit-wires yconnected with opposite poles of said electric generator, said magnet being in the electric circuit, in combination with a pair of pillars for each thread, said pillars being insulated from each other and electrically connected, respectively, by said circuit-wires with opposite poles of said electric generator, each of said pillars IOO IOS

IIO

having its outer surface composed of portions my name in the presence of two subscribing composed of electric conducting and non-oon- Witnesses. ducting materials, and a circuit-closer having an eye for the passage of a thread, and two JOHN PLUMLEY HASLAM 5 contact-loops which embrace said pillars, re- Witnesses:

speotively, substantially as set forth. HENRY C. CONRAD,

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed JOSEPH L. CAVENDER. 

